What happens to old horses.....

Recently a former FEI level dressage horse ended up with a horse trader known to take horses to slaughter. He was sold by unsuspecting owners and was on the brink of a very bad ending when someone on Chronicle of the Horse posted his sales ad. By a stroke of luck the person who owned him during his show days (5years ago) saw the posting. She bought him with another person and he will now live the rest of his days in the lap of luxury. Here is the blog about his story.

One of the most heart breaking parts of being involved in the horse show world is seeing what happens to our old friends. I know it happens with recreational horses but show people are big offenders when it comes to selling horses. When someone out grows a horse, the horse gets too old, or the person wants to change disciplines the horse gets sold. Each time the horse is a little older and the little worse for the wear. And worst of all a little closer to ending up at the auction with no one but a kill buyer bidding. In this economy young, sound, and often trained horses are a fraction of what they were even five years ago. With that in mind, why is someone going to chose the old guy with creaks and groans? That isn't to say that there aren't saints who buy older horses. However, in the general public those people are few and far between. When you sell a horse there is no way to guarantee where that horse goes. It is really important to do your home work and if anything sounds fishy then go with your gut. Please please put a buy back clause in the bill of sale but know that people can still sell the horse without talking to you. It is important to keep in contact with the buyer because in five years when they want to sell that horse they will have forgotten about you or lost your number.

My friend sold a horse she started and showed dressage through her teen years. Then, like many teens, she found herself ready to leave for college and unable afford or care for a horse. However, that is where her similarity to the hoards of teens selling their horses before college ends. At the young age of 18 she had the maturity to know she needed to continue looking out for her horse even after she sold him. She had leased him out and sold him to a person who understood part of the sale was a buy back clause and continued contact. Over the years she contacts the owner often and goes to visit her horse. And if the current owner will not provide for a retirement when he is old she is going to see to it. She hasn't owned him in ten years but she is still making sure he is ok.

The best thing you can do is commit yourself to keeping the horse you buy. That horse loves you and depends on you. As soon as you sell them the downward spiral of his/her life has begun. More often than not it isn't going to end well. According to a New York Times article the government reported 138,000 horses were sent out of the country to slaughter. After all they did for you, you owe it to them. I know horses are expensive and it is hard enough to keep one let alone two. In my book you need to think about that when you get the horse. And this will be very unpopular but sometimes euthanasia is the kindest thing. If you are selling the horse because it won't hold up to the rigors of your riding it isn't fair to pass him on to someone else. Give him a kind ending because slaughter isn't kind at all.  They don't walk quietly into a box and die without stress. They are shipped in horrible conditions, in holding pens for sometimes months, and killed in a horribly inhumane way. Watch some videos on slaughter and it will make you feel better about humanely euthanizing that old friend who "Won many shows but has arthritis and would be sound for light trail riding"

 For me selling Bre has never been an option. She is well bred and when she was a little younger someone would have paid a pretty penny for her as a brood mare. Some little girl could clean up in 4h with her. But I know where she would eventually make her way. So she stays with me for the rest of her days.

Youtube Rescue Horse

I am up late because I work tomorrow and try to say up until at least 5am the night before I work a grave. I was looking at horse videos and really have no idea how I stumbled upon this young woman. When I first saw the videos I thought it was adorable that she was so smitten by her horse. So many young people get focused on the ribbons and lose sight of the fact that riding involves another creature.

Here is a young lady who looks to be a promising rider at the top levels. Yet she is deep down still that little girl who always wanted a horse.

Click here to see the story of her 15.3 Clyd/TB cross who was rescued and is now at top level jumping and loving it. If you are a big sucker you might want to have tissues around, damn teenagers and their youtube video music. It is wonderful that even when her trainers told her the horse was too small and she needed a new one she didn't believe them and went elsewhere. Good for her!!! Check out her other videos too. That horse is having a blast.

The next time some fancy trainer tells you right away you need a new horse just because yours doesn't have the right pedigree think twice. If the horse is built for the job and loves the job, eff off everyone.

No news on the pony front here. It is too hot. I can't stand myself and have no interest in forcing them into labor until it at least gets back into the 90s.

Horse Rescues

When I first started this blog I thought it would be for just people that already knew who the new boy was. Now I am thinking that people who are new to his story might be checking in. He is a 2yo Appaloosa Thoroughbred cross that was born in Feb of 2010. He was purchased by Pony Up Rescue as a yearling from an Auction in Enumclaw, Washington. If horses are not purchased by a private buyer they end up in the "kill pen". This is a holding area where the horses wait for the semi truck to pick them up and take them to slaughter. No one else was bidding on this young boy and he was destined for the kill pen. Pony Up, being the amazing rescue that they are, saved him and brought him home. I know his history from birth and he is quite well bred. He has a lovely father with nice bone and a big appy mom. We know for sure that he was not dropped because of his heart condition, I was the first one to find out about it. It is amazing to me that someone passed up this lovely sport horse prospect. Lucky for me (and for him) that Pony Up specializes in rehoming animals with sport horse potential so they knew what they were seeing. The people who run this rescue are angels. Rosemary started the rescue and was so supportive of me when we first found out about his heart problem.

That brings me to the topic of horse rescues. If you are like me it breaks your heart to see horses dying a horrible death in slaughter yards (yes it is horrible, it isn't just a humane way to make use of unwanted horses and I am happy to share video proof). It makes me sad to see animals who are starved or who should be put down but no one has the money to do so. I probably have the expertise to rehome horses but I don't have the property or time. I also don't have much money left over at the end of the month. When I knew I would eventually be looking for a horse that would be able to take me further in riding I knew that  rescue would be the way to go. There are so many nice horses out there. Heck, more than one equine Olympian came from a slaughter yard or off the track.

I have been stalking rescues for years (over ten years, before I even had Bre). I did this so I would know a nice horse when I saw one. I also wanted to be able to watch rescues come and go over the years and learn how to spot a not so reputable one. I was looking for a rescue that would help me find a new partner. I also really want to have  long term relationship with a rescue. If I have a few extra bucks at the end of the month I want to know my money will be well used. And there will come a day that I will have more than a few dollars to send their way.

My idea of a rescue I want to support has evolved over the years. I encourage each person who watches videos of starving horses or wants to save horses before they are slaughtered to find a rescue they believe in and send money. Even if it is only 10 or 20 bucks here and there. Ten dollars would get you two fancy mochas, can you skip a few of those? Every dollar counts. Heck if 10 people reading my blog sent $10, that would give a rescue $100. $100 is a big start towards getting teeth floated, gelding a stallion, could worm several horses, or by a medicine for a horse regaining weight. I encourage you to find out about the rescue, do research, talk to people who volunteer there and visit the rescue if you can. What is important to each person might be a little different so my list of must haves are just a suggestion:

1. I want a rescue that provides needed vet care. This includes being willing to euthanize a horse when it is no longer comfortable.

2. Does the rescue actually check references? How many horses do they have in foster and how often do they visit those horses?

3. It is important to me that they are actually making an effort to rehome the horses. Every horse they rehome makes room for another horse at risk. My exception would be if a rescue was a sanctuary. They need to be up front about that though. If they bill themselves as a rescue that rehomes horses they need to be doing that. The best way to help a large number of horses is to rehome the horses you already have.

4. Do they put training on horses or are they just hanging out in a big herd waiting for a home? If the horse isn't receiving training of some kind he/she is being set up for a life of revolving owners. Training doesn't have to mean that they are being sent out to a fancy trainer. Ground work and hacking goes a long way. If the horse was donated or sent to auction because it was too hot it isn't going to get any better without frequent handling. If a rescue is frequently taking on horses that they don't have the means to rehab both physically and training wise they aren't doing what is right for the horses. Pony Up pays money to put horses and training and fully assess rideability before they are ever listed as being available.

5. What are they charging for a fee? Yes the rescues need money to keep going but charging over $2,000 for a rescue horses isn't fair. This means they will hang on to the horses longer and in the end the horse will have cost them more than if they had let the animal go sooner at a reasonable price. Pony up generally charges $500. And if the horse needs training they will often waive the fee if you are willing to put the horse in training for a month.

6. How transparent are they? Are they open to visitors? Do they say "Sure, let's compare dates and come on down" when you ask to visit, or do they put you off? Do they have frequent volunteers? It takes a village to even run a small boarding barn so if they don't have people coming and going it makes me wonder how the horses are getting cared for and if there is something to hide. In this day of social media I would expect to see a blog or facebook page with frequently updated pictures of happy horses. Pony Up has open houses, tack sales, horse shows, and has an open door for volunteers to see the horses and help out.

7. How are they covering expenses? Are they making an effort to go out there and fundraise or are they just holding on by a thread and making frantic pleas for money to keep afloat. Pony Up is getting ready to have a ponies only show and has a yearly dinner/auction. If you have something to donate they might be able to use it at the auction!!

8. How many horses do they have? If they have a huge head of horses I would want to know what the condition is. How are they managing to take care of that many horses. There are definitely parts of the country where it is reasonable to take care of a large herd of horses but this isn't the case every where. And it isn't impossible to have a herd but if they do I would want to know how they make it all work.

It might sound crazy to think of all these things but more often than not the person you heard about on the news with starving horses is a "rescue". If you send even ten bucks to a rescue like that you were paying someone to torture an animal. So do your homework. I did mine and know Pony Up deserves every donation they receive.

If you don't feel up to the task of doing your homework and want a really great rescue to send a few dollars to check these guys out:
https://www.facebook.com/PonyUpRescue

http://www.ponyuprescue.com/

http://www.ponyuprescue.com/donate.html

Here is a little summary of "vetting" a horse rescue before donating:
http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/news/vetting-the-horse-rescue-before-donating.aspx

Big Changes

Next week will be a big week. I start a new job working at a major medical center here in Portland with my shiny new RN license. I currently work there in inpatient psych and decided that it would be best for my long term career to work do something other than psych for a few years. I have worked in psych for over a decade now and see myself growing old and grey in that field. However, I know that building up my general medical knowledge will be so important and will open me up to many opportunities. Having a well rounded background will make it easier for me to get a job should my partner and I ever decide to move elsewhere. It will also allow me to do outreach work in other countries. And most importantly it will make me a better nurse practitioner once I decide to go to grad school. The new job will be taking care of people receiving kidney and liver transplants. It is a challenging area of nursing which is very exciting to me. I can't wait to get started!!! The position will be working graveyard. This shift makes me both excited and terrified. I will earn significantly more money, which is a huge pro. My goal over the next year is to take my partner on a tropical trip, buy a house, and take care of my ponies. The pace will also be slower which will allow me to really get to know my patients and do research about their needs while at work. I love a fast pace but I plan on using down time to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. I think once I get used to it this is going to be a wonderful shift for me in my first year of nursing. 

Working overnights isn't without worries for me though. I have bipolar disorder, which has been very stable for years. Since I have been to Oregon I haven't had more than minor dips in my mood in the winter and before that I was stable as well. I know that I will be able to get sleep working graves because I tend to sleep better during the days anyway. I do worry that I will sleep away the days and not get enough light. That was a big problem for me in AK and I still get down in the winters here. I worry that I won't be motivated to do anything when I get up because I am on such a strange schedule. Luckily I will soon have a special weapon in my back pocket. A big 16h four legged weapon. One thing I know about myself is that I will always get up and be motivated if I have a pony depending on me. No matter how down I feel I find a way to work with my horse. Riding is the one thing that will pull me through on the darkest days. Better yet riding usually keeps me on an even keel so things never get dark and sad. It gives me structure, it keeps my mind busy, and motivates me to eat healthier and exercise. Nursing is a stressful career. The 12 hour days, sick and upset patients, working weird hours and missing out on sunlight. It might seem insane to add an extra expense/stress to the mix with a young horse. I know myself though and know that this will make me a better person through it all. I will be in better shape to go on hikes and trips with my honey. I will be more sane and able to pick up extra shifts. And I will just be happier all around. 

There will soon be more to come on this guy :)